My name is Melissa Boyajian and I am a physics professor at the Community College of Rhode Island. It has been a long and arduous road to get here though. I graduated from East Greenwich High School in 2001 and that fall I began taking classes at the campus where I now teach. I decided to take classes at a junior college as opposed to a university in order to save myself tuition costs. After two years I transferred to the University of Rhode Island where I completed my bachelor in science degree in mechanical engineering in 2007. I immediately began graduate school and in addition to course work I completed research in the detection and quantification of bacterial adhesion in microfluidic systems. I received a master in science degree in mechanical engineering in 2010. At this time I am taking graduate-level courses in mechanical engineering and wish to apply for the Ph.D. program next year. I am also taking graduate-level courses in other disciplines, such as education, in order to expedite my promotion process and diversify my education.
Most of the experiences that I have had in college have been positive ones. I have met many intelligent and interesting people, including students and faculty. I have received good marks which always makes schooling a more positive experience. There were a few experiences that were less than ideal. One such example, that I will never forget, occurred when I was a student at CCRI. I was a freshman taking the course “Introduction to Engineering”. I was working on a project in class when I encountered an issue and asked the professor for assistance. The teacher told me that engineering is better suited for males and that I should reconsider my major. I was appalled that a professor would discourage a student so greatly. Instead of heeding his advice I took what he said and decided to prove him wrong. I ultimately received an A in his class and now this professor is my colleague. I never reminded him of his comments as I’m sure he does not even remember stating them. This experience was not the last time someone told me that engineering was best left for males and every time this occurred I used these comments as encouragement.
My name is Melissa Boyajian and I am a physics professor at the Community College of Rhode Island. It has been a long and arduous road to get here though. I graduated from East Greenwich High School in 2001 and that fall I began taking classes at the campus where I now teach. I decided to take classes at a junior college as opposed to a university in order to save myself tuition costs. After two years I transferred to the University of Rhode Island where I completed my bachelor in science degree in mechanical engineering in 2007. I immediately began graduate school and in addition to course work I completed research in the detection and quantification of bacterial adhesion in microfluidic systems. I received a master in science degree in mechanical engineering in 2010. At this time I am taking graduate-level courses in mechanical engineering and wish to apply for the Ph.D. program next year. I am also taking graduate-level courses in other disciplines, such as education, in order to expedite my promotion process and diversify my education.
Most of the experiences that I have had in college have been positive ones. I have met many intelligent and interesting people, including students and faculty. I have received good marks which always makes schooling a more positive experience. There were a few experiences that were less than ideal. One such example, that I will never forget, occurred when I was a student at CCRI. I was a freshman taking the course “Introduction to Engineering”. I was working on a project in class when I encountered an issue and asked the professor for assistance. The teacher told me that engineering is better suited for males and that I should reconsider my major. I was appalled that a professor would discourage a student so greatly. Instead of heeding his advice I took what he said and decided to prove him wrong. I ultimately received an A in his class and now this professor is my colleague. I never reminded him of his comments as I’m sure he does not even remember stating them. This experience was not the last time someone told me that engineering was best left for males and every time this occurred I used these comments as encouragement.
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